easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
CISA Practice Question: A small business wants to protect customer data…
A small business wants to protect customer data stored on a local file server. Which of the following is the MOST cost-effective control to prevent unauthorized access?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse detective controls (audit logs) or encryption (which protects data at rest) with preventive access controls, leading them to choose a more expensive or less effective option instead of the simple, direct file permission configuration.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure file-level permissions
Configuring file-level permissions (e.g., NTFS permissions on Windows or POSIX ACLs on Linux) is the most cost-effective control because it directly restricts which users or groups can read, write, or modify specific files and folders on the server. This granular access control prevents unauthorized access without requiring additional hardware or complex management, making it ideal for a small business with limited budget.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Enable detailed audit logs
Why it's wrong here
Audit logs are detective, not preventive.
- ✓
Configure file-level permissions
Why this is correct
File permissions are a direct and low-cost way to control access.
- ✗
Implement full-disk encryption
Why it's wrong here
Full-disk encryption protects against physical theft but is more costly and not the most targeted control.
- ✗
Deploy biometric authentication
Why it's wrong here
Biometrics are typically more expensive for a small business.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CISA practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISACA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CISA exam.